The ability to grind out results at this stage of the season is crucial and in recent weeks Southport have shown exactly how to do it.

At the end of February, the Sandgrounders conceded five goals to lose at Forest Green Rovers as they tumbled into the relegation zone.

Five unbeaten matches later, Paul Carden’s team are now seven points clear of the bottom four after electing to take the gritty, if not pretty, route to safety.

Richard Brodie and Paul Rutherford scored in the second half to give Southport maximum points from an important match against Dartford, strengthening their own survival hopes while dashing those of their visitors.

“We won at Aldershot last week and we spoke before the game about how back-to-back wins can propel you into good positions,” said Carden

“It had the makings of a tricky game today and we came out deserved winners.

“We’ve ground it out if we’re being honest and our lads put in a proper, professional performance.

“We’ve always said about the middle of the park being important for us and on this little run we’re on that area has been won by our midfield three every game.

“We stood off them a bit too much in the early stages but we then started to impose ourselves further up the pitch which caused them problems.

“Our two centre halves today were immense and if you don’t concede, you don’t lose.”

Key to Southport’s improved form has been their new-found resilience. This was the Sandgrounders’ fourth clean sheet since the heavy loss at Forest Green and in central defender Tom Davies they had the game’s stand-out player.

Richard Brodie in action for Southport (Image: Simon Marshall)

It was Dartford who had settled the quicker and Danny Harris should perhaps have made more of his one-on-one with goalkeeper Peter Brezovan.

Southport improved as the half progressed but chances were difficult to come by. Paul Smith’s deep cross had keeper Daren Ibrahim back-peddling to prevent the ball from dipping under the crossbar.

The home team showed a greater level of control in the second period and with Davies and Luke George heading over from a Scott Kay free-kick and Georgie Donnelly corner respectively, the most likely route to goal was always from a set play.

And so it proved when Brodie pounced midway through the second half, turning home a Donnelly corner after a touch from George. In an untidy game, it was a typically scrappy goal.

Against a Dartford side who posed little threat, Southport’s lead was never at risk and Rutherford added the gloss in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a goal on the counter-attack.

Connor McCarthy released Will Beesley, whose shot was palmed by keeper Ibrahim into the Rutherford to head home the Sandgrouners’ second.